In the mid-thirties of the XX century designers tanks of almost all countries of the world believed that one of the main characteristics of this rapidly growing type of weapon to be speed.Considering the war machines as a kind of mechanized cavalry counterpart, strategy and tactics were in captivity of certain stereotypes.Reflecting this confusion began some models of equipment recognized in future unsuccessful.An example is the Soviet tank T-46, however, with some reservations.If he had been able to create in any other country, it is quite possible, he would be recognized as a technical masterpiece.But not in the Soviet Union, where Stalin's 30th tanks to meet the highest requirements.
As appreciated genius Christie Soviet
Wonderful American mechanical engineer J. Walter Christie back in the twenties invented something which has become the defining trend of tankostroitelnoy thought for many decades.At home, however, estimated the flight of his creative thought is low.America then was exclusively peaceful country, and the government was interested more tractors than military tracked vehicles.In Britain, where Christie's sold the sample also failed to understand the advantages of the invention.But in the Soviet Union there were specialists who understand why such a suspension of rollers.
It is under the guise of agricultural machines running gear design of John Christie was loaded onto the ship and taken to Leningrad.There she quickly found application.Pan-spring suspension has excellent characteristics and had a dual purpose, it can be equipped with both tracked and wheeled mover.
Differences from other Soviet tanks
In the mid-thirties the main tank of the Red Army was a T-26.Constantly improved and high-speed model line BT.Military equipment is aging fast, and replace it intended to release the new product, known as the T-46.In 1935, out of the gate assembly shop went first sample, differs from its predecessor several large towers cylindrical shape, weight and improved chassis design, which, as on BT, can be easily converted to the wheel, removing the tracks.At the same time became the leading rear road wheels, two of the four on each side, which significantly improves the patency.The front rollers could rotate as the vehicle.
scheme modern, but ... old
Overview T-46 leads to the conclusion that the designers of the Kirov plant during the project works have not yet found the main basic layout scheme that has become the rule in the future for all of Soviet tanks.Transmission was a front windshield book pyatnadtsatimillimetrovoe protected the crew and equipment only from bullets and shrapnel, the engine runs on gasoline.Machine weight exceeding 17 tonnes.Caliber gun was at the time quite decent, 45 mm, it was enough for it to hit any foreign tank of that time, including the promising samples.There was another sign pointing to a lack of revolutionary design of the T-46.Photos of the tank demonstrate the absence of even trying to have armor plates inclined to increase the likelihood of a rebound in contact with the shell.In terms of active tank artillery to counter this is clearly not intended.
Thus, we can conclude that the T-46 was the embodiment of all the progressive ideas of the world tank building of its time, and in the design of the chassis and overtook them, but at that time the Soviet Union had already appeared much more progressive ideas.
Advantages and disadvantages
main index, saying that "our tanks are fast", though impressive on the highway tank accelerates to 80 km / h, which leads to a powerful engine (330 hp..).He walked on the tracks at a speed of 58 km / h.Every ton of weight carried 19 "horses" that for many armored beauties in the XXI century is not bad.The worst situation was with reliability.Complex and difficult mission often fail, which together with a small engine life is not allowed to use the machine in long battles.
Armament impressive.In addition to these "EP," T-46 was equipped with three machine guns caliber 7, 62 mm, or two and a flamethrower.
negative result - the same result
In general, the design of this tank, given the high class of the Soviet engineering school, pulled on the collective Mighty graduate thesis project of engineering technical college.Its design was all like, at that time known from open published sources and survey data on the state of armored vehicles - potential enemies.T-46 was not worse than any of them, and in some ways even better, but lacking some "zest", characteristic for our school.This set the sad fate of the project, a series he did not go, it was built only a few cars.
in vain, however, the efforts of engineers Kirov factory can not be named.After a few dead-end paths, they were convinced of their hopelessness, and began to work in other areas, surely gaining fame creators of the world's best tank.
